Explosion at gunpowder factory Kırıkkale Chemical Industry Machinery after emergency service management

Abstract

Objective: Industrial accidents as a form of disaster, can result in numerous injuries and deaths. Appropriate management of this type of mass injuries in emergency room can prevent deaths and injuries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the patient profiles and clinical management provided at Kırıkkale Yüksek İhtisas Hospital ED, following the violent explosion in the nearby gunpowder plant of the Industry of Machinery-Chemistry (MKE) in Kırıkkale on August 29, 2008.
Methods: Medical records of injured employees that visited Kırıkkale Yüksek İhtisas Hospital ED after the explosion in gunpowder plant of Mechanical and Chemical Industry on August 29, 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Total of 23 patients admitted to our emergency room. Nine out of 23 patients were transferred with ambulance, while the remaining 14 patients arrived ED by other means. Only one patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3, while all others scored 15. Skin laceration, fractures, swelling, scalp incision and soft tissue injuries were among the observed findings in physical examination. The mean length of stay in emergency room was 2.89 hour. Nineteen of the patients examined in emergency room were discharged after observation for 24 hours. One patient died of intracranial bleeding. Three patients were admitted to the orthopedic service and plastic surgery, and were discharged following their treatment.
Conclusions: Although management and organization seemed to be not so difficult in this incident, EDs should always be prepared for more difficult situations. The elimination or reduction of losses in the event of disasters can be accomplished by effective management of disasters both inside and outside the EDs. For disaster management systems to be successful, all response actions should be conducted in a coordinated manner.